Rod & Reel

Fly fishers should bring an 8- to 9-foot, 4- or 5-weight outfit. Both 4X and 5X leaders will work in most conditions, and only in low water will you have to switch to 6X or 7X. For night fishing, 3X leaders are best. Guides recommend weight-forward floating lines with a five-foot sink tip. Spincasters find that an ultralight spinning rod with 48 pound test line will work for the average rainbow trout you're likely to catch, but if you are looking to land lunkers, move up to a bassin' outfit set up with 1020 pound test line. You'll want to bring along neoprene waders for the colder months, and breathable clothing for the warmer months. Felt soles will assist in stabling you on the slick rocks. Polarized sunglasses are a must.

Flies & lures

The key to fishing the Little Red River is light tackle and small lures. Ultralight spinning rigs and two- to four-pound line are popular. Most trout are taken on bait, rather than artificials, simply because more anglers use it. Favorite artificials for Little Red trout include marabou jigs, small spinners and spoons, and crayfish- and minnow-imitation crank-baits. But one of the most productive techniques involves a curious marriage between bait and artificials. This rig consists of a small, clear bobber rigged about four or five feet above a brown feather jig, on the barb of which is impaled a small white waxworm. The rig is cumbersome to cast, but that's acceptable since the proper fishing technique is to work the lure in as slowly as possible.

During highwater, driftfishing with the current is favored. Bait is cast upstream and allowed to bump the bottom as it drags behind the boat. On low water, stillfishing deep holes, weedbeds, and timber from an anchored boat is preferred. The Little Red River is also one of Arkansas's most popular flyfishing streams, and the many shoals exposed during low water periods offer ideal locations to hook a hefty trout on a variety of fly patterns. Arkansas's trout season never closes, but many of the larger fish are taken from October through February.

Your fly box should contain Sowbugs, Scuds, Sculpin, Woolly Buggers, San Juan worms, and Crayfish to imitate the forage fish and crustaceans. Unlike western rivers, insect hatches are secondary food sources for these trout. Standard mayfly and caddis patterns will cover all the insect imitations you will need. Bring dry, emerger and nymph patterns. Beadhead Sowbugs are deadly. Other popular patterns include Prince Nymph and March Brown Nymph, Red Brassie, and Red Ass. On each of these tailwaters, when the water is down, midge fishing is highly successful. The number-one fly that will put you into fish is the Red Fox Squirrel nymph. Dropper rigs are deadly, usually set up with a Sowbug on the bottom; try them in orange, gray and tan. Lures run the gamut, depending on who you talk to, and include gold and bright green Little Cleos, Bomber Long A's, Rattlin' Rogues, small black or white jigs, Rapalas and crawdad lures.